WIGAN chairman Dave Whelan wants FIFA to step in and restrict Roman Abramovich's spending power amid fears the Premiership will be ruined if Chelsea continue their current domination.

WIGAN chairman Dave Whelan wants FIFA to step in and restrict Roman Abramovich's spending power amid fears the Premiership will be ruined if Chelsea continue their current domination.

Whelan has no problem with the fact Abramovich chose to lavish his millions on the Stamford Bridge club.

However, he is concerned that if the Blues' stranglehold is not loosened over the next few years, the lifeblood will be drained out of the game.

"He (Abramovich) is paying £100million a year in wages, and he has virtually three teams of players that would get into any other team in the Premiership.

"He's got the money, the backing, a great manager, a great football club and I'm sure the supporters love him. I would say good luck to him.

"But the dominance Chelsea have right now, if it continues for five, six or seven years, and they win this championship outright all the time, then it is going to affect the game.

Devalued

"It's brilliant for Chelsea, but it's not going to be good for the game. The competition will become devalued and attendances will go down because people won't want to watch, so clubs will lose more money."

Whelan speaks from experience as his Wigan rugby league side were almost untouchable until the introduction of a £1.8million salary cap.

"It has taken about six years to get the transparency needed, and I think every club now abides by it, with the rules strict," added Whelan.

"It works in rugby league and I'm sure it would work in football throughout Europe.

"At the moment FIFA must look at the balance sheets of football clubs across Europe and they must shudder - I know we shudder when we look at the balance sheets of clubs in this country.

"I don't think there is one club in Europe, other than Manchester United, that makes a profit out of football. If you break even in this game, then you are lucky.

"I think Chelsea lost something like £90million last season. That is staggering.

"The desperation comes with teams wanting to play in the Champions League because that's where the money is, allowing them to pay the high wages.

"But I feel that sooner or later FIFA will have to look at limiting salaries, a cap of around £20-25million.

"I do believe it would work and benefit football generally across the continent."